Sarley: The fishing hook you use is actually important

A lot of fishermen take hooks for granted and that is a big mistake. There is one factor about hooks that makes all the difference in fishing success and failure: sharpness.

Head to your favorite tackle shop and you’ll find pegs full of packages of shiny hooks. You’ll find many shapes, endless sizes, a number of colors, and models affixed with the latest doodads such as bait holders. Look past all that, pick the size that fits your purpose and buy the sharpest hook you can afford.

In the pressured waters of Northern Illinois, you’ll get fewer bites than if you were fishing in Canada. In that case, isn’t it better to be able to set the hook firmly and penetrate a fish’s mouth with a sharp hook than to lose a fish due to a dull hook point? I’d certainly say so.

I am a fan of Gamakatsu hooks. They are so sharp that a fumblefingers like me can inflict serious damage to his hands. These hooks are pricey, but I feel they are worth the money. A fairly new brand, Lazer Trokar hooks, are too expensive for my budget. This is what I mean by purchasing the sharpest you can afford.

Lake Michigan – "Some Kings have finally started to show up in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan this past week. Most are being caught early in the morning. Moonshine's Crabface, and a white Hot Spot flasher with a mirage fly tied 24 inches behind, have been two very good baits. Fish were caught from 50 to 210-feet of water. Most were caught in the top 70 feet of the water column. Some lake trout and steelheads added to the catch.” The Lake Michigan Fishing Report is provided by Captain Bob Rossa of Migrator Charters based out of Northpoint Marina - www.ALakeMichiganCharter.com.